Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, other than Brielle and Baby Boy Copeland.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Exotic Dancing, Stripping, Violence, Domestic Violence, Hinted Self-Harm, etc.

Three Hours Later

"I'm not sure that I can do this." Adam said, quickly sucking in a deep breath. The white-washed room before him, which looked nearly identical to his own, seemed oddly imposing to him. "I'm sorry... Can you just take me back to my room?"

Dr. Kocianski offered him a reassuring smile. "I know that you're worried. It's quite understandable." As she said this, she pushed his wheelchair into the room. "But really, there's no reason to be afraid. He's awake, and even though he can't speak, he understands and responds to what you say."

Shortly after his mother had left, Dr. Kocianski had dropped in to tell him that Randy had woken up. At first, Adam had been overcome with excitement. Having first convinced himself that he had been placed into a hopeless situation, to hear that something was actually taking a turn for the better was like music to his ears. But then, the reality of the situation had sunk in. After their fight just a few days before, would Randy even want to see him? Did Randy still feel the same way for him, or was there more damage hidden beneath the surface - like scar-tissue, hidden by the initial wound from the bullet?

Dr. Kocianski pushed his wheelchair up to the side of the bed, and after offering a consolatory pat on the shoulder, told him that she'd be back for him in a little while. Soon enough, the sound of her departing footfalls diminished... and the two of them were left alone. Adam stared at Randy's battered body for several seconds, focusing in on the heavy gauze wrapping around the smaller man's neck. Hesitantly, he reached out and took hold of Randy's hand. At the gentle touch, Randy's liquid blue eyes fluttered open. They fluttered around the room for several seconds, before settling on Adam. Otherwise, he remained perfectly still.

"Hi, baby. Um..." He didn't realize how awkward this would be - it felt like Randy was staring through him. "Um... blink once if you know who I am."

Randy raised an eyebrow, but blinked once anyhow.

"Okay. Good, um... I'm glad." Adam smiled a little bit, doing anything to not have to meet Randy's eyes. "My... um... My mom came by earlier. I had, uh, I had called her after... y'know... and she sat with me for awhile. I was really scared..." here, Adam cleared his throat softly, "...scared that you wouldn't wake up."

A pause, and then Randy squeezed his hand. The gesture had an odd, reassuring affect on Adam. It seemed to speak profoundly, even if Randy's lips couldn't yet move. That small gesture gave Adam the strength to continue.

"You were... shot... I'm sure you're well aware of that, though. I was just... I was wondering... why did you do it?" Adam forced himself to meet those steely blue eyes, which had been firmly locked on his face the entire time. "You saved my baby, and I'm eternally grateful... but you could have died. Don't you care?"

It was difficult to hold a conversation with a man that couldn't answer him. Randy's only response was another squeeze of the hand, and utter silence.

"I mean... I honestly don't mean to sound ungrateful... but... I'm not much, and certainly not important enough to die for." Adam sniffled softly. He wiped at his eyes with his good hand, before continuing, "The only truly important role I've had is being a parent... my existence has only ever really been important to Brielle."

There was something oddly soothing about the way the heart-monitor beeped in the distance, followed by the rhythmic sounds of Randy's breathing.

"She saved me... and you saved her." Adam could feel tears slowly brewing in his eyes. "I'm eternally grateful, Randy. I was such an ass to you, and you saved us both. It was such a selfless act..." he sniffled weakly. Choking around a sob, he finally confessed, "I was pregnant... and the baby... the baby..."

Randy squeezed his hand tighter, slowly, painstakingly raising it to his lips. The dry, chapped skin grazed the back of Adam's hand, and the tears finally fell.

"It's a boy." Adam whispered. "He was born via emergency C-section at twenty-three weeks... and it's my fault. M-My fault... All mine..."

Adam bowed his head, laying it on the side of Randy's bed. The bed sheets absorbed his tears, and Randy, mustering what little strength he had left, placed his hand on the back of Adam's head. Gently raking his fingers through Adam's fluffy blond locks, he did his best to console Adam without words. It was impossibly painful to lay there and listen as Adam poured all of his heartaches onto him, and only be able to squeeze his hand. He wished that he could speak, that he could offer words of love and comfort to the man that meant more to him than life itself. But right now, all he could do was slowly stroke his head.

To finally hear about the baby - that he had only discovered accidentally - and what had befallen him because of actions taken by some psychopath... it made his heart ache. What was worse was the fact that Adam blamed himself. Adam wanted to take the weight of the world upon his shoulders, but didn't realize that he could share the burden with others. He didn't realize that Randy was willing to share in the burden. Slowly lowering his hand, he placed it under Adam's chin and raised the older man's face up until their eyes met. And then, with a small smile, he finally forced himself to speak.

"Adam... I love you." The dry, raspy voice that uttered those words filled Adam's heart with an undeniable joy... and when he smiled, Randy realized that, while it might not have erased all of the horror that Adam endured... he knew that Adam realized he was forgiven.

A/N: I'm sorry about how short this chapter is. I feel it's important, though, to help glue together this and the next piece of the story. In other words, the ending.